NO EXPERIENCE.....

[fishmamma]

I want to get a blue cray except Im not sure how it would do with the fish I have now.....

2-blood parrots 4.5/5.5in
3-small body convicts
2-gourami
1-danio
1-common pleco

55gallon
I could add more places to hide but I still dont now...give me some feed back.

 

[bigspizz]

Not worth it. Your stock will eventually eat him.

 

[black_sun]

Eh, it'd be an interesting mix but probably a losing one.

I have BPs with various crayfish, they ignore each other for the most part. But I've attempted (various species on both sides) crays and other cichlids, and it just doesn't end well. The crays often hunt down smaller cichlids, and the cichlids often pick apart small or molting crayfish.

Danios and Gouramis are easily caught by some species of crayfish, and if not caught, they fins are often nipped and torn up regularly by the crays. And plecos are a gamble, since they're bottom dwellers. They'd be a likely reoccurring target.

All of that aside, what's usually sold as the common blue crayfish is P. alleni, which is an aggressive, carnivorous species. It likes to actively hunt, reaches a large size and has a bad temperament. It's not a good addition to a community tank. Now granted, individual temperaments and personalities aren't taken into account here, but overall... it'll doesn't look like something that would work out for you. Try setting up a separate tank for the cray, because they're really awesome to own. ^_^

 

[fishmamma]

Thanks...but are there any other types of cray that might work out??? I love crustations of any sort.

 

[black_sun]

I've known many keepers who've successfully kept medium to large sized Cherax quads (these generally range 8-12" as adults) with fish. Juveniles and subadults could still likely be an issue with the cichlids. But generally, it's a fairly passive cray species that doesn't do too much damage to tankmates (occasionally, someone will get nipped at feeding time or fry may disappear).

I even kept mine with fish:

He used to live with Pacu and Catfish. Now he just lives with catfish... he's a big baby, he doesn't bother anything. Though, he will bop a catfish on the head if it gets to close to his food, heh.

 

[Triton]

First thing I would recommend is going to Youtube and search for :blue lobster eat fish. Mind you, I'm sure the owners probably didn't feed the lobsters/crayfish for awhile, in order to get them to attack the fish.

As for my experience, I had a blue lobster (Procambarus sp.) that was about 6in. I mainly had goldfish, all above 5 inches and a Pleco at 12 inches. I kept plenty of caves and plants in my 55 gal tank, so everybody got along pretty well. It was a male crayfish and I didn't have any problems with him.

I wouldn't put the danio or the gouramis in the same tank as the lobster/crayfish. They would eventually be snacks for the crayfish.

I can't think of a better alternative then getting a blue lobster. They really add a lot of interest to the tank. You could get some red cherry shrimp, but then you would have to worry about the shrimp getting gobbled up.

Here are some pics of his younger days(about 3in inlength)

 

[Ak-Kronic]

man i had a red crayfish and i think he climbed outta the tank man!!!! cuz i used to see him climbing the cord for the heater. and i always kept lids and the small plastic crap that you slip over the glass to seam up the back......anyway i swear he climbed out cuz one day he was just gone and i never say any sign of his exoskeleton or anything i watched my O's turds to see if they were diff than norm and he nor any of the other tank mates had huge bellies.....my guess is my room mates dogs ate him when he climbed out.....cuz i never found any sign of him......and i don't watch my buddies dog take a dump so nuff said....so my prob w/ crustaceons is they don't stay in the TANK!!!! not they get eaten or visa versa. anyway i wanna get another blue one this time haha they are great for eating detritus......plus mabe he will catch my 2 danios i put in for cycyling lessen the bio load, BTW does anyone know how bad blue crays pollute. cuz i know plecos do more damage than they are worth in that aspect i keep a couple fancy plecos anyway haha

 

[fishman61]

Aside form you crayfish, you already have too many fish in your 55 gallon tank. The plecostomus itself will grow to 18" in lenght. The parrots 8" each, they need about 30 gallons each to be healthy

 

[fishmamma]

Aside form you crayfish, you already have too many fish in your 55 gallon tank. The plecostomus itself will grow to 18" in lenght. The parrots 8" each, they need about 30 gallons each to be healthy

As far as the crays, i decided to put them in a separate 10 gal and they seem happy so far... one of them molted this past Tuesday and unfortunetly i don't have another tank for him to go into and he has some limbs missing...hope he pulls through.

Concerning the fish, i was acctually given the 2 bp's, 3 convicts and the pleco not knowing too much about them. I was also was given the tank, so at the time all sounded great,.... and it is, but i will have to go bigger soon not knowing too much about a much larger tank... but ill advise when i need help with that.